Southern California -- this just in

Azusa coach, friends mourn suspect killed by Pasadena police

March 27, 2012 | 9:02
am

The head football coach at Azusa High School and former classmates expressed shock after hearing that 20-year-old Kendrec McDade was fatally shot by Pasadena police over the weekend in connection with an armed robbery.

"I never would've thought this would’ve happened to him," Coach Joe Scherf said Monday. “He was a good kid who was never in trouble, never got suspended from school or anything like that.”

McDade was shot late Saturday night, one of two men police suspected of ransacking a parked car near Orange Grove Boulevard and Summit Avenue and then pointing a weapon at the car's owner as he approached.

Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte Riddle said one officer on foot and another in a patrol car spotted McDade and shot at him after he appeared to reach into his waistband. Police have yet to find a weapon in the area of the shooting.

Residents of the area report hearing about six gunshots during the altercation, two in one burst and as many as four in another.

After the incident with McDade, police subsequently apprehended and arrested a 17-year-old boy also believed to have been involved in the robbery.

McDade had no record of prior criminal offenses, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Scherf said McDade lived with his younger sister and mother, who was very active in his school life.

"His mother was always behind him, making sure he was doing the right thing," Scherf said. "I remember she pulled him out of practice when he got a really bad grade."

Scherf described McDade as an average student who was reserved when he first started playing football, but who later opened up and played with a lot of emotion.

"He was very dependable on the football field," Scherf said.

McDade also had a very close group of friends in high school who Scherf described as "good kids."

Friends from school took to Twitter when they heard McDade had been shot.

"RIP my boy Kendrec McDade," said Andrew Zarco, "It was an honor being able to play football with you."